Bus & train times – Hanoi to Bangkok via Vientiane

The best overland route from Hanoi in Vietnam to Bangkok in Thailand is to travel via Vientiane in Laos. The first stage of the journey is to travel by bus from Hanoi to Vientiane. From Vientiane you then make a short a short journey across the border to Nong Khai Railway Station. The second stage of the journey from Nong Khai to Bangkok can be completed by bus as well although the most comfortable and stress free option to book a sleeper seat on an overnight train from Nong Khai to Bangkok.

Stage 1: Hanoi to Vientiane

The first stage of the overland journey from Hanoi to Bangkok is the longest part of the journey. By bus the journey from Hanoi to Vientiane takes between 22 and 24 hours. On arrival in Vientiane most people to book into a hotel or guesthouse in Vientiane before travelling onward the next day. You can continue the journey the same day but after a full day on a bus a night you will most likely want to take a shower and spend a night relaxing in a proper bed before travelling any further.

Travel Times Hanoi to Vientiane

There 2 direct bus services a day from Hanoi to Vientiane which can book online.

Hanoi

Vientiane

Cost

Company

17:00

15:00

$ 29.66

The SinhTourist

17:00

17:00

$ 24.20

HTX Van Tai 277

The SinhTourist: This service depart from The SinhTourist Office at 52 Luong Ngoc Quyen in Hanoi.

HTX Van Tai 277 Hanoi Bus Stop

Stage 2: Nong Khai to Bangkok

You have two options for travel from Nong Khai to Bangkok: bus and train. By direct bus it takes 10 hours 50 minutes and by train it takes 10 hours 10 minutes and 11 hours 15 minutes depending upon which train service you take. What we recommend is that you book a sleeper berth on the evening train which has the advantage of either allowing you some time in the morning to look around Vientiane (if you stay in Vientiane for a night ) before travelling to Nong Khai to board the train, or if you are in a real rush to get to Bangkok you have time to get from Vientiane to Nong Khai the same day as the The SinhTourist bus from Hanoi arrives.

Travel to Nong Khai Train Station

There are two ways to travel the 24 km from Vientiane to Nong Khai train station. The first option is to take a bus or minivan all the way from Vientiane to Nong Khai. This option involves crossing the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and is the quickest way to get from Vientiane to Nong Khai. The bridge border crossing is open from 06:00 to 22:00.

Reclining Buddha in Bangkok

The other way to travel from Vientiane to Nong Khai Railway Station is to take a bus or a minivan to Dongphosy Railway Station, which is 22 km from Vientiane. There are two trains a day from Dongphosy Railway Station to Nong Khai Railway Station at 10:00 and 17:30. The journey time by train is 15 minutes and tickets cost 20 THB for 3rd class and 30 THB for 2nd class. The main benefits of using the train are the shorter queues at immigration and arrival directly on the platform at Nong Khai Railway Station means less far to carry your bags.

Travel Times Nong Khai to Bangkok

There 4 direct train services a day from Siem Reap to Bangkok which can book online.

Nong Khai

Bangkok

Service

Train No.

07:00

17:10

Express

76

18:15

05:00

Express

78

18:30

05:45

Rapid

134

19:10

06:00

Special Express

26

Giant Ibis: The only train with sleeper berths available is Train #26 departing from Nong Khai at 19:10.

Buy Tickets to Bangkok

Use the Search Form to buy your train tickets from Nong Khai to Bangkok.

Nong Khai Train Station

Trains to Bangkok depart from Nong Khai Train Station.

Bangkok Train Station

Trains from Bangkok terminate at Bangkok’s main train station, Hua Lamphong, although many passengers choose to alight a couple of stops before at Bang Sue Railway Station in the north of Bangkok to connect with the Bangkok metro which travels faster than trains do into Central Bangkok.